2 month update?

WOW! I can't believe its been that long. January was pretty uneventful (I spent most of it trying, in vain, to catch up on my scrapbooks), but February has been jam packed with visits. I'm using smilebox bc its the fastest way to upload a bazillon photos.

First we went to Houston for our "Christmas" trip. Christmas was when we wanted to go but found an amazing deal of 1/2 price tickets if we waited, so we waited and went out for Valentines. Rachel must remember Grandma Donna and Pop-pop's house because she didn't miss a beat. It was funny, while we were on our way if anyone asked her where she was going she'd tell them and then add, "because they miss their little girl. But when I get there they will be happy!" It took Ashley some time to adjust to having "strangers" around, especially when they wanted to touch her. She learned to say bird thanks to Sky my parents parakeet. Surprise, Surprise, Mike was able to make the trip with us! Thanks to my parents for watching the girls while Mike and I celebrated Valentines. We went to Saltgrass for a steak dinner that was yummy and then went to the House of Blues to see Plain White T's play where my sister and her date joined us for a very enjoyable concert, especially since none of us listen to them! Well okay Mike has a little, but it was still a good concert and we only knew 3 songs between the 4 of us.

Commence slideshow

Not too soon after we got home we got a phone call from some friends of ours from LA wondering if they could come out for spring break. Could we say no? Well yeah we could have, but that would never happen! So the next Monday our friends Anna and Kyle Johnson came out with their 3 kiddos for a few days. Not too many pictures were taken since this was there vacation and not ours. They turned us on to a new game called Pandemic, the kids had their first sleepover, and just had a blast having friends around all the time. The first night we went to put the kids to bed, Anna was singing them a bedtime song and so I joined her and Rachel turned to me and asked me to stop singing. Then a minute later she says, "Mom, you can leave now." Okay big shot, I get a hint. After nap time the day they left she was still asking where they were. She's even asked where her prince (their son) is when she's pretending to be a princess. I just keep telling her someday your prince will come. I hope it's a long time from now. I'm not ready for that.

Snow

Yes it actually snowed in Vegas and I have proof.

After much persuasion and patience the girls finally decided to go out in the snow just before the snow all melted.

First they had to clean off the snow that gathered on the picnic table.

It was no longer snowing, but that didn't stop Rachel from trying to catch snow on her tongue.

The snow started melting as soon as it stopped snowing, but it was still a nice change from just rain.

Celebrating Christmas

We've had fun doing things as a family getting ready for Christmas and then there was the special morning, here's our recap of the Holiday.

Ward Christmas Party
This year's theme was the polar express, so we all wore pajamas, drank hot coco, got jingle bells and met Santa. By the time Santa came Ashley was already asleep and Rachel likes the idea of Santa but not actually being near him. Maybe next year.


Making Pizzelles
I made 5 batches of pizzelles this year! It wouldn't be Christmas without them.

Bellagio Gardens
We enjoy going down to the gardens at the Bellagio Casino through out the year because it's always changing. During Christmas it is beautiful with all different colored poinsettias.


Sugar Cookies
Ashley got to join us this time in making, decorating and eating sugar cookies.


Gingerbread House
Another of our yearly traditions is the gingerbread house. We cheat and buy the kit which makes doing this so much easier and quicker.


Christmas Morning
Wow, we had fun. It took 2 1/2 hours to open their presents which is about 2 hours longer than what I thought it would. Rachel came down stairs and was so disappointed because Santa didn't bring playdoh (last year it wasn't wrapped, this year it was). I thought she was going to cry and then she opened up the wrapped playdoh and was so excited. She brought her hands up to her head like she couldn't believe it. It was great! Then every present that was opened needed to be played with. Rachel wore her princess dress the entire time she opened presents. Ashley's "playdoh" was the bounce and spin zebra, she giggled knowing exactly what it was. She didn't even wait until it was put together before she was on it. The rest of the morning was spent playing with all the new toys and games. One of my highlights was being able to have my parents watching the girls enjoy their Christmas morning and then us watching them open their gifts thanks to skype. It's nice to have a way to spend holidays even if we're a half continent apart.

Fall you're a little late

I'm a little confused, I look out my bedroom window and see the tree across the street finally dressed in orange and red leaves. It is December which should be winter right? So why is that fall is finally making an appearance? Fall, I think you're a little late the snow beat you to the top of the mountains before you reached the trees. Try to do a little better next year.

Cookie Time

Yummy, our first batch of pizzelles have been made! This is of course the first of I'm sure many more to come. I think I made 3 batches last year but Mike recalls it being 4 or 5.

I love the winter baking season, we should bake like this all year long. On my list for this year: of course more pizzelles, peanut butter blossoms, mint chocolate chip cookies, rocky road fudge, sugar cookies, peanut butter balls, Amish Friendship Bread, and whatever else seems yummy ate the time. My little mixer always gets lots of good use this time of year. I LOVE BAKING! I'm excited if you can't tell.

The tree is up

The Unveiling

The day has come to see what's in the box. First I blew out the candle on my Carvel Ice Cream Cake, when I say "I" I mean Rachel and I.


Then the wrapping paper with Rachel's assistance has been torn, the big box revealed and what is in side?A new printer, but not just any printer, a wireless over sized printer meaning I can print on my 12X12 paper for scrapbooks! Yeah! Thank you, Mike!